The Associate s Spring 2018 s Volume 23 Number 1 page 1 the A s s o c i a t e info@nacar .org s www .nacar .org s 253.256.2227 “You are meant to give new life, new space, new stretch to the charisms of the spirit and the religious congregations.” Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister “Let the Call Be Heard,” NACAR Conference, Milwaukee, May 2002 Fifteen years ago in Milwaukee, NACAR, a fledgling membership organization, invited Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, a renowned author with a prophetic vision, to speak to a national conference of associates/oblates/affiliates (or by whatever name) and religious. She was to delve into the question of “why do associate programs exist?” Her response was this: “you are meant to give new life, new space, new stretch to the charisms of the spirit and the religious congregations whose task it is to proctor their treasures for the rest of the world.” Joan Chittister’s insights and analysis invigorated that Milwaukee gathering, and recently her words did again at the Fourth International Oblate Congress which took place in Rome in November. She reminded us then and now that “each of us carries within us a piece of the truth—but only a piece, it is by absorbing the wisdom of others that we ourselves become wise. Associate programs make evident that each of us is on the way to the same God—the only difference in our journeys is the way we choose to get there.” The 2018 theme for The Associate is “Creating the Future in the Now.” To launch that theme, we have included the original 2002 text from Joan Chittister to remind us of her words: “Why do you exist? You are to embody and extend the charisms or gifts of the spirit long embedded in the great spiritual religious traditions in new and richer ways. You exist for one reason, and one reason only: to become the blazing, flaming, searing torch to others that you are really meant to be. You are gifts given by God for today.” NACAR gives you Joan’s words again beginning the text in this issue and continuing it on our website. We think this message will remind us to be “the other gospel voice, to brave witness, to risk new life everywhere.” Associate Conni Dubick, Dominican Sisters of Peace, NACAR board president a word from NACAR Board of Directors
Transcript
The Associate s Spring 2018 s Volume 23 Number 1 page 1
“You are meant to give new life, new space, new stretch to the charisms of the spirit and the religious congregations.”
Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister “Let the Call Be Heard,” NACAR Conference, Milwaukee, May 2002
Fifteen years ago in Milwaukee, NACAR, a fledgling membership organization, invited Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, a renowned author with a prophetic vision, to speak to a national conference of associates/oblates/affiliates (or by whatever name) and religious. She was to delve into the question of “why do associate programs exist?” Her response was this: “you are meant to give new life, new space, new stretch to the charisms of the spirit and the religious congregations whose task it is to proctor their treasures for the rest of the world.”
Joan Chittister’s insights and analysis invigorated that Milwaukee gathering, and recently her words did again at the Fourth International Oblate Congress which took place in Rome in November. She reminded us then and now that “each of us carries within us a piece of the truth—but only a piece, it is by absorbing the wisdom of others that we ourselves become wise. Associate programs make evident that each of us is on the way to the same God—the only difference in our journeys is the way we choose to get there.”
The 2018 theme for The Associate is “Creating the Future in the Now.” To launch that theme, we have included the original 2002 text from Joan Chittister to remind us of her words: “Why do you exist? You are to embody and extend the charisms or gifts of the spirit long embedded in the great spiritual religious traditions in new and richer ways. You exist for one reason, and one reason only: to become the blazing, flaming, searing torch to others that you are really meant to be. You are gifts given by God for today.”
NACAR gives you Joan’s words again beginning the text in this issue and continuing it on our website. We think this message will remind us to be “the other gospel voice, to brave witness, to risk new life everywhere.”
Associate Conni Dubick, Dominican Sisters of Peace, NACAR board president
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Let theCall Be Heardfrom Sister Joan chittister’s Address as the 2002
Conference of AssociatesThere are several ancient stories that indicate best, perhaps, both the purpose and the spirituality of these groups we newly call “associates”—as if we were in the process of discovering for the very first time the truth holiness has known throughout history: that the purpose of charism, the very purpose of the gifts of the spirit—is to share them, not to hold them captive to some kind of ecclesiastical elitism.
The first story is from the tales of the desert monastics: one day Abba Arsenius was heard asking an old Egyptian man for advice on something Arsenius was deliberating about. Someone who saw this said to him: “Abba Arsenius! Why is a person like you, who has such great knowledge of Greek and Latin, asking a peasant like this for advice?” And Arsenius replied, “Indeed I have learned the knowledge of Latin and Greek, yet I have not learned even the alphabet of this peasant.”
Abba Arsenius knew what as religious communities, as church and as people we have forgotten for centuries: life is the world’s greatest spiritual director and each of us learns something from it.
Each of us carries within us a piece of the truth—but only a piece. A measure of the wisdom toward which we all strive lies in learning the language around us—in hearing the wisdom of the other. It is by absorbing the wisdom of others that we ourselves become wise.
The second story comes from the Tales of the Hasidim. A seeker traveled miles every week, the sages say, to learn from the Holy One on the other side of the
mountains. “What does the Holy One preach about,” some friends asked, “that could possibly cause you to make such a long and arduous journey so often?”
“Preach?” the seeker said. “Why, the Holy One never preaches to me at all.”
“Well, then,” the friends asked, “What rituals does the Holy One do that are so important to your soul?” And the seeker answered, “The Holy One doesn’t do any rituals for me whatsoever.” “Well, in that case,” the friends persisted, “What potions are you given there that make life holier for you?” And the seeker answered, “I’m not given any potions at all.”
“But if the Holy One doesn’t preach to you, and the Holy One doesn’t do rituals for you, and the Holy One doesn’t provide you with potions, why do you go there?” And the seeker said, “I go there to watch the holy build the fire.”
The seeker here knows what every truly spiritual seeker everywhere knows: there are some spiritual
truths we come to understand only by seeing them done by another—only by doing what others do who have already gone before us and know the value of going this way.
Finally, the Zen masters tell the story of Tetsugen, the goal of whose life was the printing of seven thousand Japanese copies of the Buddha’s sutras, which until then were still only available in Chinese.
... continued on page 4
Sister Joan Chittister responds to questions during her address at the 2002 NACAR conference in Milwaukee, Wisc.
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Let the Call Be Heard ... continued from page 3
Tetsugen traveled the length and breadth of Japan to collect funds for this project. But after long years of begging, and just as he collected the last of the funds—most of them from the peasants of the country—the river Uji overflowed, and thousands were left homeless. So Tetsugen spent all the money he’d collected for the translation of the scriptures on the homeless.
Then he began the work of raising funds again. But the very year he managed to raise all the money he needed for the second time, an epidemic spread over the country. This time Tetsugen gave the money away to help the suffering.
Finally, once again, he set out on another fundraising journey and twenty years later, sure enough, he’d raised enough money for the third time to see his dream come true: the scriptures would finally be able to be printed in Japanese.
Well, the printing blocks from that first edition of Buddhist sutras into Japanese are still on display at the Obaku monastery in Kyoto. But the Japanese tell their children to this day, that Tetsugen actually produced three editions of the sutra and that the first two editions—the care of the homeless and the comfort of the suffering—are invisible but far superior to the third.
Clearly the Zen masters know what we know: witness is the measure of the spirituality we profess. What we do because of what we say we believe is the real mark of genuine spirituality.
From the desert master who listened to the laity, to the seeker who recognized holiness of life in the sheer reverent dailiness of the Holy One, to Tetsugen who knew that no spiritual book is equal to one spiritual act, the link between deep spiritual development and a profound spiritual life has been a constant. The ancients are clear: there is a common bond between conscious carriers of the great spiritual traditions and seekers of the spiritual life in every age that is both necessary and empowering.
One enlightens the other. One energizes the other. One empowers the other. The tradition enlightens the time, yes, but seekers re-energize a tradition, as well.
Point: Religious and associates need one another. Why? Because true companions make possible the growth of the other, that’s why.
The questions today, then, are simple ones: 1. Why do you exist? 2. Where did you come from? 3. Who are you? 4. What must you do?
Continue reading the article on our website to see the answer to these questions.
Reprinted with permission of the author (joanchittister.org).
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Sister Joan Chittister addresses associates and religious during the 2002 NACAR conference in Milwaukee, Wisc.
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Several months ago the NACAR member services committee considered a plan for sharing crucial ideas resulting from the NACAR 2016 CARA study, Partners in Mission: A Profile of Associates and Religious in the United States. Following these discussions, an outline was formed to develop topics of greatest interest to NACAR members. The thought was to have this plan delivered as a dialog with interaction so that through the inclusion of many thoughts, we would be able to glean the best of practices and plans for the future of association.
As the NACAR member services meetings continued, it became evident that more than one session would be needed to reach a target audience. The committee drew from the nine responsibilities for the associate community found in the CARA study (page 61) as an agenda plan. These areas were delineated within the study and included the responses of associate coordinators/directors.
It became clear that, before presenting these topics, an introduction reviewing the overall importance of the CARA study and the nine responsibilities would be a good beginning for the dialog. As we put into action these plans, we struggled with delivery. What would be the greatest and most immediate impact? How could we make this a viable tool—perhaps a written article, PowerPoint presentation, lecture, a podcast, an interactive series? Interactive engagement, that is what we wanted!
We now have in place engaging topics presented during the day via Zoom as one-hour webinars with breakout rooms for discussion. Online reservations are required to allow for optimal participation by limiting the number for each webinar. These conversations are available to all NACAR members and there are recorded sessions available through nacar.org.
At present we have aired four of our proposed series with great interaction, discussion and feedback. The fifth of the series is planned and more are developing. We originally had thought to conclude in May, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive, so there is
discussion to continue into the fall. Each of the series is recorded and later broadcast on the NACAR website for viewing online. The second podcast included breakout rooms in which facilitators made available their dialog through reports. Those discussions will be summarized and placed online.
Creative ConversationsNACAR Interactive Webinar Series
Associate Anne Scott, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, writes:
“Thanks to all who invested so much time and attention to coordinate and lead the creative
conversation on associate leadership. For me, the session provided a rare opportunity for dialogue with sisters/associates from other communities
who share common objectives. I had watched the video of the first conversation and really got a lot out of that one also. BUT actually preparing and participating in the second conversation took it to
another level for me!”
We started these podcasts as an exploratory process that has materialized into a true gem for the growth and future of association. We hope you will participate in one or more in the future, if you haven’t already, and see the impact being made by the religious – associate connection in North America and Canada. Tune in to the next broadcast of Creative Conversations found on the NACAR website!!
Sister of St Joseph Rita Woehlcke presents a Creative Conversation on the topic of local associate leadership.
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Associate Leadership RetreatPursuing Peace:
Co-Creating the Beloved CommunityProgram OverviewIn carrying forth our various charisms, relationship by relationship, associate leaders are co-creating the “beloved community,” a community rooted in the pursuit of peace. Through prayer, presentation, contemplation and faith sharing, participants in the retreat will explore a contemporary spirituality of peace that speaks to the associate way of life. We will peer through three lenses: the depths of peace (contemplation), the heights of peace (solidarity) and the horizons of peace (hope), to raise up implications for our lives and ministries as associate leaders. We will imagine ways in which associate commitment can be a visible witness to peace in our congregations and ways in which associate leaders can foster that witness in addressing issues of aging, diversity, formation and sustainability.
Our FacilitatorSister of Charity Louise Lears, a native of Baltimore, Md., met the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in Albuquerque, N.M., in the early 1980s. As her sister Maggie likes to say, a funny thing happened on the way back to Baltimore. Rather than returning to a teaching career in Baltimore, Louise (at age 35) entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, whose founder Elizabeth Seton had roots in Baltimore.
Sister Louise holds a master’s in theology from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore and a doctorate in medical ethics from St. Louis University. She has taught medical ethics and the spirituality of nonviolence at universities and colleges in St. Louis, Baltimore and Cincinnati. She continues to serve on a number of medical ethics committees and local boards. Her experience in, and learning from, nonviolent peacemaking experiences has changed her life.
In 2011, to her surprise, Louise was elected to the leadership council of her congregation; she will finish her second term in 2019. Louise is the leadership council liaison with the congregation’s associates and considers that relationship one of the great gifts of her community life. Louise lives with three of the newest members of her congregation; their connections with other newer, younger members (sisters and associates) has enriched her life in amazing ways.
May 21 - 24, 2018Siena Retreat CenterRacine, Wisconsin
The retreat will begin on Monday, May 21, at 5:00 p.m. and end on
Thursday, May 24, after lunch.
All associate directors, coordinators and others who serve in leadership positions are encouraged to attend this
formational retreat!
Please see the information sheet and registration form
or go to our website for further details and
to register for the retreat.
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Welcome Mark & TerriNew NACAR Board Members
Associate Mark Piper, Sisters of Mercy (West Midwest)
Mark Piper made his first covenant with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (West Midwest Community) in April 2011. His orientation year into Mercy Association coincided with his post-collegiate year of service with the Amate House program in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He was
made aware (tangentially) of “associations” towards the end of his college career at Saint Xavier University of Chicago. It was on an international student service trip that he learned about the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Venerable Catherine McAuley, and got an education about the charism. From that time, he thought, “these sisters get it—how can I, a young male, for whom the charism of service and hospitality to the poor and sick resonates, be a part of that mission of mercy?” Association was the answer and he believes that it remains the correct answer for him.
Mark has a variety of experiences that prepared him for his current position as director of Mercy Association for the West Midwest Community. While completing a master’s in public policy at DePaul University, he has worked on strategic planning in the business world as well as being a part of the Journey of Oneness process for the Sisters of Mercy of Americas. He has gained knowledge in non-profit legal structures and communication relating to technology. Mark is a Young Voices columnist for the National Catholic Reporter and a member of Chicago’s Commonweal “weal” group.
Despite a busy travel schedule, Mark is interested in the work of NACAR which he says is “the only North American organization that ties each affiliation/association together and gives some universality and collegiality to the association movement.” In addition, he has a special interest “to assist with a more accentuated effective outreach to various age cohorts with invitational processes for diverse populations.”
Associate Terri Butel, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
Terri Butel has been an associate since 2001 and is the first lay director of Associates for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. She had served on the SCL Associate Advisory Board and on the Kansas City Alumni Council of the University of Saint Mary with the council’s communication
responsibilities. She has been educated and formed by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth from first grade through college graduation “and beyond!” For 20 years she managed pathology laboratories and practices. Terri has negotiated contracts with hospital administrators and communicated with clients and patients and honed communication skills as a female manager.
For years, Terri participated in the NACAR gatherings with Ron Rolheiser, Joyce Rupp, Michael Crosby and the NACAR 20th anniversary. Because of these activities, as well as the NACAR retreats and the online and print resources of the leadership manual, survey results and member reflections, she understands their value to the broader membership. She is ready to contribute her own communication expertise and skills as a board member.
Terri has stated that she brings an understanding that “these liminal times require ideas and responses not known or owned by any one of us, but only available through deep listening, spiritual insight and collaboration.” She believes that NACAR is “essential to the ongoing development of the associate movement, providing resources, prophetic voices, and a wider conversation than any of us have immediately available to us.” Terri wants to “work with the board to look both far and wide (what’s happening all around us) and into the distance to see what’s coming. It can be a networking bonanza!”
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Farewell & Thank YouNACAR Board Members
Associate Conni Dubick, Dominican Sisters of Peace, NACAR board president
A favorite quotation of mine is from a German Dominican, Meister Eckhart, a theologian and mystic, who lived in the middle ages. He said this:
“And suddenly you know: it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”
And the magic of beginnings often start with leaving one activity, position, responsibility and moving to something new. Such is the case for three members of the NACAR board: Cathi Duffy, treasurer; Kathy Herrington and Barbara Roth.
Cathi Duffy, director of associates for the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, and Kathy Herrington, associate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, have completed two full terms on the board, most of them in positions on the executive committee. They have served on several other committees as well during their six-year tenure. Both of them have agreed to continue their committee work after leaving the board itself.
Barbara Roth, associate of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, has served on the membership development committee for a couple of years and will continue as a committee member after leaving the board.
All of these women have offered insights, expertise, time and talent to the expanding presence of NACAR as we continue to grow in understanding the associate movement and the dynamic role of this organization.
Thank you for your presence and contributions. We know that you are trusting the magic of your next beginning experience!
Cathi Kathy Barbara
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Affiliate Michael Krueger, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Sitting at a dining table with a number of Dominican Sisters at Sinsinawa Mound Center reminded me of my undergraduate years at Viterbo University (La Crosse, Wisc.) where almost weekly for five years I was in conversation with the Franciscan Sisters at St. Rose Convent as I collected their trays and dishes to later wash.
I’ve visited a lot of dining rooms and washed a lot of dishes, not only at St. Rose Convent but later as coordinator of a Catholic Worker House. Now, fast forward seven years, I continue to wash dishes—brightly colored water bottles for my three-and-a-half-year-old daughter and never ending rotation of bottles used by my three-month old son. Dishwashing has become symbolic of meaningful encounters.
I was initially drawn to affiliation through those interactions at the dining room table. There was the table that Sisters Verda and Lucille shared each morning, arriving late to breakfast after their adoration hour, imparting a word of wisdom and often handing me an extra piece of fruit or item from the bakery. There were Frank and Jean, Jim and Wally as well as countless others who graced the tables at the Catholic Worker house, and imparted the pain and humor, the ordinary and the sacred, and the diversity of life that one discovers through learning a name and in sharing a meal.
I became an affiliate initially, because I did not want to forget these interactions and how they changed me. I did not want to forget an identity of the Gospels that I discovered in St. Francis and recognized in Dorothy Day, but also saw lived out by ordinary women who had chosen a life of prayer and service that responded to the community in which they lived. These were women who
had instructed me to risk boldly, and although my path in life has had many wanderings and turns, it was the invitation and acceptance to be an affiliate which helped to ground me in staying rooted, even if I could not always remain at the same dining room table for long.
I have been an affiliate with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for close to nine years, and although I now work at a Dominican institution and have moved across borders and towns—from La Crosse to Chicago back to La Crosse and now to Madison—I continue as an affiliate because of the long standing story that I am a part of. Affiliation bonds; it makes me part of a community that carries with it a rich sense of ritual, tradition, and history. It is of significance because so much in my life is moving forward at a fast clip. If I don’t allow for a pause that is sacred and rooted and embracing, the whirlwind of life carries me with it until the dishes pile up and I realize that I didn’t take the time to recognize who it was who ate off each plate, who sat across from me at the table, or who walked through the front door.
Meaningful EncountersWhy I Became an Affiliate
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Here's a 2018 challenge for you: What does being a member of NACAR mean to you personally?
Create your own poster board quote for NACAR! Either use our 2018 theme: “Creating the Future in the Now,” or an idea that speaks to you about what it means to be a member of NACAR.
The purpose of a poster vision board is to bring everything to life. There are no special rules! Ponder what it means to you to be a member of NACAR then create a poster (like the ones pictured here) with your quote and an original image. Email it to [email protected].
Poster Board ChallengeAttention All NACAR Members
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Entries will appear on the NACAR website, Facebook and in the next issue of The Associate. Come on, join the challenge to create your own poster quote! The NACAR board will select a poster board from the entries to appear on the cover of the 2018 NACAR annual report!
Deadline for submission is May 1.
Accept our challenge to create your own poster quote!
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Supporting organization membership in NACAR is available to organizations and groups that are working to support and advance the associate-religious movement. This issue we highlight Midwest Kindred Spirits, a supporting member since 2016.
Midwest Kindred Spirits is an inter-congregational network of leaders of Associates who assist and challenge each other for growth and development of the associate movement. The group began in March 1988 when four sisters from the Milwaukee Archdiocese met to brainstorm about associate relationships in their communities. A statewide meeting of associate directors was the result of that session, bringing together 18 participants from 13 religious congregations. From the start these women were serious about maintaining a strong support system. In 1996 the name of the group changed to Kindred Spirits and in 1999 to Midwest Kindred Spirits, better reflecting the geographic diversity of a growing membership. In 2019, Midwest Kindred Spirits will be celebrating its 35th anniversary.
Midwest Kindred Spiritis meets twice a year for networking and support, once in the spring and once in the fall. In the spring meeting, a day of reflection is held for director members. The retreat day is considered an important opportunity for spiritual renewal for the director members. The location of the meetings rotates to meet the needs of the members.
There are numerous goals of Midwest Kindred Spirits, include providing opportunities for discernment, motivation and encouragement. Another goal is to provide time for input and reflection on current trends and resources and to provide mutual support by listening, praying and sharing. Midwest Kindred Spirits also strives to develop and maintain vehicles of communication and networking and to provide opportunities for spiritual development.
Thank you to Midwest Kindred Spirits for their generous donations to NACAR to help us serve, empower and promote the associate-religious relationship.
Would you like information about becoming a Supporting Organization Member of NACAR? See our website.
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A MovementNot a Moment
Associate Nancy Davis, Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate
“There is an associate-religious movement in North America and it is ‘a movement not a moment’” says Associate Conni Dubick, Dominican Sisters of Peace, using a contemporary expression to describe what is happening. Part of her evidence is based upon the growth and development of the associates in mission with the Dominican Sisters of Peace founded as a new congregation in 2009.
It doesn’t take much effort to find a Dominican Sister of Peace Associate in cities and parishes where they reside. From 2010-2017, they have been accepting 41-52 new associates each year from across the country.
What makes this growth so significant is that it is driven by associates with support from the sisters, specifically the Associate Leadership Network which represents the shared leadership for associates. They take their charism and mission “to preach the Gospel with our lives” seriously, inviting those who show desire for spiritual growth to join them. They are reaching young millennials, mothers/fathers currently working as well as those thinking of retirement.
Ways of InvitationBesides what Dominican Sisters of Peace associate leaders describe as standard ways of inviting individuals to become associates, i.e. parish bulletin/local newspaper announcements, retreat house announcements, tables at church events and word of mouth, associate leaders have developed unique ways to reach out to others.
Betty Pate from Memphis, Tenn., invited the Dominican moms who are mothers of current students in their schools; some are becoming associates. Betty adds, “Then we went a step further to send a letter to all of the alumnae inviting them to discern if they had a calling to become a Dominican Associate.”
The alumnae letter had 14 responses, seven of whom are attending candidate sessions. “We would have had more,” Betty notes “but choose only those who could attend Memphis candidate sessions.”
Cell Amendolia of Niskayuna, N.Y., describes a focused ministry they do at their retreat and conference center. An associate is at the registration desk for each of their programs, available to talk to those who show interest in the associate relationship. During the retreats associates work hand-in-hand with retreatants, doing presentations and prayer services. Ceil is especially proud of an out-of-state candidate whom she met at the retreat center. “We’ve built a state-to-state process by telephone and when she comes to New York we meet her face-to-face,” Ceil explains. “Her husband is now interested and she has spoken to a few of her friends.”
Sister Martina Stegman of Oxford, Mich., says that they host their associate commitment ceremony on a Sunday after the Gospel since many locals attend Mass at their convent chapel. “That ceremony has attracted candidates,” she says.
Peggy Frank, Columbus, Ohio, states they fill their meeting space each year with interested individuals. “We send out invitations to staff who work in our
... continued on page 13
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Dominican “moms” sign commitment forms as they become Dominican Associates of Peace in Memphis, Tenn.
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A Movement ... continued from page 12
Dominican institutions. i.e. health care center, university, and spiritual center,” she explains and adds, “we are limited by space but if we had larger groups there would be no time for sharing and questions.”
Personal invitation remains important, Sister Suzanne Brauer of New Orleans, La., notes. “We invite persons we come in contact with in our ministries at the Peace Center and in the local community. Our ‘advertisement’ is the witness of the lives of sisters and associates.”
Mary Beth Irvine of Louisville, Ky., echoes the same message for personal contact, emphasizing that efforts need to nurture the deepening of the mission and charism of the congregation and that it is done through relationships with individuals, not through public recruitment. She adds, “God will do the calling.”
Ginger Kroos, Olathe, Kan., did a morning retreat followed by a lunch which she called “Dominic and Francis: Contemporaries” and it sparked interest to understand “contemporaries.”
“I believe the best way to reach people is through contact with a sister or Dominican ministry. They then experience the Dominican charism firsthand,” states Rose Blackburn of Louisville, Ky. Her team is talking about doing a community project sponsored by associates as ongoing associate formation as a way to be visible in their communities.
“Not every person who joins the discernment process completes it,” Conni Dubick says. “That illustrates that not all are called to the associate commitment. Candidates make other choices that lead them in different directions; that tells us that our discernment process is a discerning process. The Associate Leadership Network identifies both ordinary and innovative approaches to proclaim the Dominican presence and the associates’ call to mission.”
Dominican Associates gathered for a photo at the assembly which they attend with the Dominican Sisters of Peace at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio.
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Sister of Providence Jeanne Hagelskamp
Ten years ago the Sisters of Providence formally welcomed its first group of 54 Providence Associates to the congregation. In the past 10 years, 268 women and men have followed their call to become Providence Associates. They “further the charism of the Sisters of Providence by co-creating a hope-filled world, building relationships, cultivating community, and living lives that challenge them to embody the face of Providence as they seek to be love, mercy, and justice in the world” (Providence Associate Vision Statement, 2016).
The sisters and associates celebrated 10 years in relationship with special festivities in November 2017.
It all began in 2005, under the direction of the first Providence Associate Director Sister Mary Alice Zander. An advisory group gathered to shape a process of relationship building whereby women and men of diverse faith traditions could seek a formal relationship with the Sisters of Providence. Associates would:
• share in the unique spirit (charism) of the Sisters of Providence,
• deepen their understanding and experience of Providence spirituality,
• come together for prayer and mutual support, and• further the mission and spirit of Providence through
their lives and work.
Many of the early Providence Associates already had deep connections with the Sisters of Providence.
Associate Millie Brady had been a Sister of Providence for 15 years and felt that the associate relationship was gift. “I always had a deep hunger for a closer relationship with the spirit of living out God’s purpose as exemplified in the lives of the Sisters of Providence. Since I had been a Sister of Providence for 15 years, my heart and my spirit is still being fed by the spirituality of the sisters.” Millie is also grateful that men can be associates. Her husband Phil joined the journey and together they have benefited from the same spiritual direction, which has enriched their companionship.
Ten Years in RelationshipSisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Wood
Providence Associates gather at the November 2017 celebration of 10 years of relationship with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
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For Associate Alice Shelton, “It felt like a natural way to formalize a lifelong relationship that began when I was a young child. Family connections abound and continue to be part of my relationship with the congregation.” Sisters of Providence were her childhood babysitters, first “bosses” and colleagues at work. She says, “Associates and sisters share a common belief in the movement of God’s providence in our daily lives. We rely on prayer, quiet, action and play in our daily lives. It seems that we are able to walk along together in a way that continues to be an open journey toward something that we are creating while at the same time, receiving.”
Associate Sheila Donis also had a lifelong relationship with the Sisters of Providence. “The sisters were wonderful teachers and friends throughout my life—beginning with kindergarten until now. Because of their wonderful teaching, I was able to have a 38-year career as a school and parish administrator, ending as a school superintendent. My relationship as a Providence Associate confirms my gratitude with many opportunities to give back.” Sheila says, “Our common vision is based on a reverence for the Earth, a desire to serve the poor and care for the elderly.”
Associate Lorraine Kirker describes her relationship with the Sisters of Providence as “an unbroken thread since first grade at St. Polycarp in Somerville, Mass. I can’t imagine ever not being connected to the Sisters of Providence.” The bonds that unite us were made clear to Lorraine in a recent conversation with Sister Dawn Tomaszewski, who noted that a person doesn’t learn the charism of a religious community when they join it, but rather they bring that charism with them as part of who they are. Thus, for Lorraine, all of us have “found the place, the community and the path to bringing forth what is already in us in order to become our best possible selves.”
Associate Mel Marino Wolff described her decision to become a Providence Associate as based on a “need for that special connection—to make a public commitment that I wanted to share in the meaning, message and mission of the Sisters of Providence and their (our) charism. This relationship would also help to nourish the longing I had felt since I was very young to be part of the Providence community.” Mel said, “We share the vision of a world in which love, mercy, and justice are the foundation for relationships, care of others, and decision-making for all people.”
Associate Sheila Galvin has known the Sisters of Providence since attending Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Sheila believes that what unites the Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates is that “we are forward-thinking individuals and a community that seek to identify current needs in the world around us and who are courageous in our willingness to move beyond our comfort zones” to address those needs.
Associate Frank Esposito and his wife Valerie first met the Sisters of Providence during the founding years of Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis. “Through that experience I came to understand how submitting our gifts to our provident God can help create hope and positive change, even when circumstances seem near impossible. My wife Valerie and I decided to become associates based on our personal relationships with the sisters who inspired us by their work and their lives. We wanted to deepen our understanding of providence in our own lives and explore ways to help support the mission,” Frank said.
Together, through the last 10 years, the Sisters of Providence and Providence Associates have explored and celebrated the bond that unites us: a deep and profound experience of God as providence. A God who calls each one in the circumstances of his/her individual life, to be the transformative presence of providence in a world that desperately needs to experience love, mercy, and justice. And together, we will be the creative energy of providence for many years to come!
Above and behind text, a mural honoring associates was unveiled during the recent anniversary celebration.
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Associate Nancy Davis, Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate
Writing a memoir is a deeply private and reflective process and now that it is published, I am a bit shy to share with others. Yet my purpose for writing was to share the experience that formed and defined my life. So I humbly and, at the same time, boldly initiate this commentary, publishing
within this newsletter, thus sharing with many who have journeyed similarly or wondered what the journey was about.
A Habit of Service is my memoir recalling 13 convent years, 1958-1971, as a congregation member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate.
It would be fair to say that those years, intermixing with social radicalism, brought more church history change than decades and decades before and after. We attribute Vatican II for many of those changes. We must add the influences of the Vietnam war with simultaneous movements by hippies and African Americans, all tainted by the assassinations of Martin Luther King, John and Robert Kennedy.
The convent was not spared. The recent movie Novitiate reports that 90,000 nuns left communities during post Vatican II.
I met the Joliet Franciscans in third grade when, as a “publican,” I prepared for my first Communion at St. John the Baptist Church in Joliet, Ill. By fifth grade mom worked to convince dad that he would be sent to hell if we didn’t go to a Catholic school. I don’t know if it was the threat that made him buckled under, but off my brother and I went to St. John’s. I wasn’t quite sure about the nuns in my grammar school years, but
Book CommentaryA Habit of Service
by freshmen year at St. Francis Academy, also in Joliet, I knew they were people I could trust and admire. They were young and welcoming, engaging and generous with their time. They “walked the talk” of their lifestyle. I wanted to be like them.
And thus, upon graduation from high school, I entered the convent. I hope you will find reading this book reflective and engaging, remembering stories of your youth and journeys through this same period of life.
The book is available through Amazon.
The Associate s Spring 2018 s Volume 23 Number 1 page 16
The Associate s Spring 2018 s Volume 23 Number 1 page 17
New England Region Associates Associate Kathryn Davis, Sisters of St. Joseph
Associates and sisters gathered on November 4, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, Mass., to celebrate 23 years of the New England Region Associates. Associates Gail Furman and Fran Popko, Sisters of Providence, were facilitators for the day.
It was impressive to meet with 39 associates and six sisters from nine different congregations. Attendees rekindled friendships, developed new friendships and shared a common bond of God and religion. The gathered opened and closed with beautiful music and reflections. After the opening prayer, the group discussed the history of the associate movement.
The topic of the meeting was membership among the associates, specifically, how do we attract new and younger members? After much reflection and sharing, the consensus was to reach out by personal invitation and invite friends to associate gatherings; to develop a small group gathering at our parish to discuss what it means to be an associate; to develop social media, such as Facebook and Twitter announcements to attract young adults; to embrace family participation in an effort to plant the seed which can deepen spiritual relationships today and in the future; and, most importantly, to live the charism of our congregation.
Regional GatheringsSisters and Associates Continued Collaboration
Associates Kathy Tighe and Kathryn Davis, Sisters of St. Joseph, take part in prayer at the anniversary celebration for the New England Region Associates.
Bay Area Conference of Associates and ReligiousSister Elizabeth Avalos, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Associate Kathy Noether, Associate Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
On Saturday January 13, 2018, at Adobe Wells Home Park in Sunnyvale, Calif., associates and vowed members gathered to hear Sister Marilyn Wilson, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, share her reflections on “Women in the Church: Past, Present and Future.” Marilyn included present day mystic Edwina Gately and theologians such as Jaime Manson.
As Marilyn went through the ages and spoke about women in our history and today, we were able to reflect upon and discuss how the lives of these great women continue through us. As an example of present day women in the church, Sinsinawa Associate Penny Donovan shared her spiritual journey and where it has led her.
At the gathering, the board acknowledged the 22 years of dedicated involvement of Mercy Associate Dolores Nice, who was one of the founding members of the Bay Area Conference of Associates and Religious. Dolores is moving away from the area.
To learn more about the Bay Area Conference of Associates an Religious, visit our website.
Participants at the January gathering engage in discussion around the topic of women in the church.
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Twenty-one different religious orders were represented at the recent Midwest Kindred Spirits gathering.
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Associate Judy Borland, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Many celebrations took place at the Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz, Calif., for sisters and associates at the fall gathering. The annual Associate Sponsored Retreat was held November 3-5. The topic was “Living With Paule-Hermine, Our First Associate.” Sister Sue Woodruff, a historian for the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, was the presenter.
In addition to an inspiring presentation from Sister Sue, the congregation received two new associates, Mary Barber and Mary Jane McGranahan. Mary was presented by Associate Stephanie Friedrich and Mary Jane was presented by Sister Mimi Maloney. Mary and Mary Jane’s families and friends joined in celebrating the reception of these wonderful women.
Regional & CommunityGatheringsSisters and Associates Continued Collaboration
Midwest Kindred SpiritsAshley Skoczynski
Midwest Kindred Spirits recently gathered in Racine, Wisc., at the Siena Retreat Center, operated by the Sisters of St. Dominic. Midwest Kindred Spirits has 21 different religious orders represented and is driven by the mission statement of being “an inter-congregational gathering of associate directors and assistant directors who assist and challenge each other for growth and development of the associate movement.” We meet twice a year, spring and fall, and discuss various topics such as ideas for future sustainability, how we can attract new associates, logistics of our roles, and more.
Our most recent meeting began with plans to celebrate our 35th anniversary. We expect to host a speaker and invite many associates and sisters from the Midwest area. As is our practice, we spent our second day together participating in a retreat, this time on contemplative prayer, led by Sister Marcia Lunz, Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. Sister Marcia shared an article by Father Antonio Pernia, in which he explained that mystics are comfortable with mystery and that most people prefer a known God who they can control, rather than an unknown God that is mysterious. But the unknown God challenges us and summons us beyond ourselves and calls us to be more than ourselves. We concluded with a minute of silence and grateful hearts.
These gatherings leave us feeling refreshed and energized and help us continue our work in the associate movement. As directors we find it important to have connections outside of our own congregation in order to receive support, hear new ideas and build new relationships.
Excitement is building for our 35th anniversary in 2019 and it is remarkable to look back at the history of the group and see how the associate movement has advanced. What started out as a few people getting together has blossomed into so much more. It is inspiring to think about what the next 35 years will bring for Midwest Kindred Spirits and entire associate community.
The Associate s Spring 2018 s Volume 23 Number 1 page 19
Associates of Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associate Dana Hinton, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
Community GatheringSisters and Associates Continued Collaboration
discussions and reflection times were provided. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Beverly Hoffman and Higinia Bol, along with Associate Maggie Vargas, facilitated the retreat.
Conversations will continue at monthly meetings as the associates in Belize begin to strategize how they plan to take more responsibility for the associate program in Belize, connect both locally and globally, and plan their service projects for the next year.
Associates of the Sisters of Charity of Nazaerth from Belize City and Dangriga, Belize, gathered at the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Center in Belize City to participate in their annual retreat. The theme was “Open to God’s Action as we Journey into the Future.” This retreat was similar to the one held in Nazareth, Ky., in September for the associates in the United States given by Jeanne Connolly, Covenant Companion for the Wheaton Franciscans, and Sister Beverly Hoffman.
The weekend provided input sessions on the history of Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Associates, who they are and who they want to become. Lively prayer, song,
Associates of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth gather for a retreat in Belize City, Belize.
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NACAR Individual Membership Application 2017/2018Individual membership is designed for any individual who has a desire to keep informed of trends, information, and resources regarding the Associate Movement in North America and who desires to support the efforts of NACAR and the Associate-Religious movement. Individual members must have an email address in order to receive communications. See NACAR Individual Membership for a full listing of benefits.
Contact Information: Associate Religious
First Name: ____________________ Last Name: ____________________________________Prefix ____________ (e.g. Sr. Br. Dr. Mr. Mrs. Ms. Rev. Deacon) Suffix ______________Name of Religious Community (if applicable): ______________________________________Position Title (if applicable): ____________________________________________________Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________City: ____________________________________ State/Prov: _________________________Zip/Postal Code________________________ Country: ______________________________Ph (W): ______________________ (H): (____)__________________(C): (____)________________Email: ____________________________________________________________________***Must have email address to receive any communications from the NACAR Office.
My community is a NACAR member. Dues $25 __________My community is NOT a NACAR members. Dues $75 __________ Donation to support NACAR __________ Total amount enclosed __________
Email or mail your forms to the NACAR address below. Postal mail your dues (US currency only please) or go to http://nacar.org/individual-membership-dues-for-2017-2018.html to pay by credit card or PayPal.
You may also complete this form and pay online at:http://nacar.org/members/membershipinfo/individual-membership-application.html
Looking for a detailed list of membership benefits or have questions about individual membership? Please see the next page of frequently asked questions about individual membership.
If you are interested in community membership, please see the NACAR website: NACAR Community Membership
Membership
The Associate s Spring 2018 s Volume 23 Number 1 page 20
The Associate s Spring 2018 s Volume 23 Number 1 page 21
What is NACAR?The North American Conference of Associates and Religious is a membership organization that acts as a catalyst to serve, empower and promote the associate-religious relationship. NACAR remains the only professional organization to support and serve associates and vowed members as associates proclaim their call to live the charism of their religious communities.
What is the purpose of NACAR?The purpose of NACAR is to encourage networking and mutual support for; to identify and explore issues relevant to the associate/religious relationship; to serve as a clearing-house for the sharing of resources and talents especially for associate spiritual growth; to provide a vision for the future of associate/religious relationship as the people of God; and to assist in policy and guideline development to support the Associate way of life.
Who is eligible for an Individual Membership in NACAR?Individual membership is designed for someone who has a desire to keep informed of trends, information, and resources regarding the associate movement in North America and also desires to support the efforts of NACAR and the associate-religious movement. Individual members must have an email address in order to receive communications.
What are the benefits of an Individual Membership in NACAR?Most importantly, it provides you with the opportunity to be part of the larger Associate- Religious movement across North America and to witness to the work of the Holy Spirit in our world today. Membership also provides
1. Opportunity to directly receive information on trends and resources regarding the Associate movement.2. Discounted fee to workshops, conferences and webinars.3. Access to Leadership Manual; Rookies Rock; and CARA study at discounted rate.4. Access to Member section of NACAR website including the consultant directory.5. Reception of monthly e-newsletter from the Board of Directors.6. Reception of The Associate e-magazine three times a year.7. Forum to address issues that impact Associate-Religious life.8. Opportunities for continuing education, leadership development and professional growth.9. Available resources regarding issues, concerns and trends in Associate-Religious relationship.10. Access to postings of Prayer Requests on the NACAR website.11. Listing in online Membership Directory.12. Listing in Consultant Directory if desired.13. Assistance in connecting with regional associate groups throughout North America.14. Connection to other associates.
What are the yearly fees for an Individual Membership?Individual membership is $75 annually (July 1-June 30) if you do not belong to a community that is NACAR community member. It is $25 annually if you belong to a community that is a NACAR community member.
How do I access the Member Only section of the website?To register on the website: Go to www.nacar.org, click on register and follow the prompts. If you need assistance, contact [email protected].
Please note: To register for the NACAR website you must be either an individual member or one of the listed members for your community. Registration for the website is a separate process from becoming a member.
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Membership NACAR North American Conference of Associates and Religious
